Keith Roberts (dancer)
Encyclopedia
Keith Roberts is a professional dancer who is currently performing in Twyla Tharp
's Las Vegas show Sinatra Dance With Me, which opened on December 11, 2010 and is scheduled to run through April 2, 2011
He previously starred as Hank in Tharp's Broadway show Come Fly Away
(March 25, 2010 - September 5, 2010). He danced with American Ballet Theatre
(ABT) from 1987-99, during which time he also performed on Broadway in Matthew Bourne
's Swan Lake and in Fosse
. He has worked extensively with Twyla Tharp since 1988, originating leading roles in most of her ballets at ABT and Twyla Tharp Dance, and in her Broadway shows Movin' Out
and Come Fly Away and has regularly staged Twyla Tharp ballets worldwide.
into a military family. His interest in dance began when he saw his younger sister's dance recital. He joined his sister in jazz and tap lessons, followed by ballet lessons when his family was stationed in Germany. Back in the U.S. at age eleven, Roberts auditioned for the School of American Ballet
, the San Francisco Ballet School, and the Houston Ballet Academy
summer programs. Accepted by all three, Roberts attended Houston, during which time he decided to pursue a professional career. He moved away from home at thirteen to attend the University of North Carolina School of the Arts
, from which he graduated in 1987. Roberts also attended the School of American Ballet Summer Program and danced with Julie Kent at the School of American Ballet's New Choreography workshop performance in July 1986.
(ABT) as a member of the corps de ballet
at the invitation of Artistic Director (1980–89) Mikhail Baryshnikov
. Baryshnikov "served as an artistic role model for Roberts" and "suggested to Twyla Tharp that Roberts would be suited to her work." Roberts's dancing earned consistent praise from New York dance critics, who also noted his versatility. Dance Magazines Gus Solomons Jr. called Roberts "a stylistic chameleon".
Roberts danced many principal roles during the 1996-97 season, including Romeo in Romeo and Juliet; working with Artistic Director (1992-?) Kevin McKenzie
and Georgina Parkinson on Romeo and performing it at ABT was something to which he had aspired since he was sixteen and "a dream come true." Ashley Tuttle
, then a fellow ABT dancer, called Roberts a "technically perfect and completely giving" partner. McKenzie promoted Roberts to principal dancer
in 1997. He left the ABT in 1999 because "I had done everything I wanted to do in ballet, and I wanted to try something different".
(**: originated a leading role)
in Durham, North Carolina
in June 2000. Roberts originated leading roles in Surfer at the River Styx, Mozart Clarinet Concerto K581 and Beethoven's Hammerklavier and performed them along with the Known by Heart Duet and Sinatra Suite.
's Swan Lake in December 1998, taking over the lead role of The Swan from originator Adam Cooper
. Roberts performed the role through January 23, 1999.
originated by Desmond Richardson
. The role also included numbers Cool Hand Luke, Mr. Bojangles (The Spirit) and ensemble pieces; Roberts initially danced it through February 13. He returned April 11 and danced it until the last performance of Fosse on August 25, 2001.
's Fonzie from the television show Happy Days and John Travolta
's walk in the opening sequence of the movie Saturday Night Fever. Tharp also had the Movin' Out cast view news film and popular films about the Vietnam war at New York's Museum of Television and Radio.
Roberts received a 2003 Tony Award Nomination for Actor (Featured Role in a Musical) and 2003 Fred and Adele Astaire Award nomination for Best Male Dancer for his role.
Roberts performed the role of Tony in parts of the National Tour of Movin' Out, which ran from January 27, 2004 through January 21, 2007. In 2006, Roberts said he was "still excited by the show", "[never stopped] learning about it" and was "always challenged by it". The tour launched in Detroit and went to Washington D.C., Denver, Seattle, San Diego, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Sacramento.
on March 25, 2010 after its premiere as Come Fly With Me at Atlanta's Alliance Theater in September 2009.
Roberts received a 2010 Fred & Adele Astaire Award nomination for best Male Dancer for his role.
Twyla Tharp
Twyla Tharp is an American dancer and choreographer, who lives and works in New York City.-Early years:Tharp was born in 1941 on a farm in Portland, Indiana, and was named after Twila Thornburg, the "Pig Princess" of the 89th Annual Muncie Fair in Indiana.she spend hours working on it to help her...
's Las Vegas show Sinatra Dance With Me, which opened on December 11, 2010 and is scheduled to run through April 2, 2011
He previously starred as Hank in Tharp's Broadway show Come Fly Away
Come Fly Away
Come Fly Away is a dance revue conceived, directed and choreographed by Twyla Tharp, around the songs of Frank Sinatra. The musical, set in a New York City nightclub, follows four couples as they look for love....
(March 25, 2010 - September 5, 2010). He danced with American Ballet Theatre
American Ballet Theatre
American Ballet Theatre , based in New York City, was one of the foremost ballet companies of the 20th century. It continues as a leading dance company in the world today...
(ABT) from 1987-99, during which time he also performed on Broadway in Matthew Bourne
Matthew Bourne
Matthew Bourne OBE is a British classical and contemporary ballet and dance choreographer.-Biography:Matthew Bourne was born in Hackney, London in 1960. He went to William Fitt and Sir George Monoux School in Walthamstow, London...
's Swan Lake and in Fosse
Fosse
Fosse is a three-act musical revue showcasing the choreography of Bob Fosse. After 21 previews, the original Broadway production, conceived and directed by Richard Maltby, Jr...
. He has worked extensively with Twyla Tharp since 1988, originating leading roles in most of her ballets at ABT and Twyla Tharp Dance, and in her Broadway shows Movin' Out
Movin' Out (musical)
Movin' Out is a jukebox musical featuring the songs of Billy Joel.Conceived by Twyla Tharp, the musical tells the story of a generation of American youth growing up on Long Island during the 1960s and their experiences with the Vietnam War...
and Come Fly Away and has regularly staged Twyla Tharp ballets worldwide.
Training
Roberts was born in Denver, ColoradoDenver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
into a military family. His interest in dance began when he saw his younger sister's dance recital. He joined his sister in jazz and tap lessons, followed by ballet lessons when his family was stationed in Germany. Back in the U.S. at age eleven, Roberts auditioned for the School of American Ballet
School of American Ballet
The School of American Ballet is one of the most famous classical ballet schools in the world and is the associate school of the New York City Ballet, a leading international ballet company based at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City. The school trains students from the...
, the San Francisco Ballet School, and the Houston Ballet Academy
Houston Ballet's Ben Stevenson Academy
Houston Ballet’s Ben Stevenson Academy provides ballet training for over three hundred students. More than half of the professional company's dancers have come from the ranks of the academy....
summer programs. Accepted by all three, Roberts attended Houston, during which time he decided to pursue a professional career. He moved away from home at thirteen to attend the University of North Carolina School of the Arts
University of North Carolina School of the Arts
The University of North Carolina School of the Arts , formerly the North Carolina School of the Arts, is a public coeducational arts conservatory in Winston-Salem, North Carolina that grants high school, undergraduate and graduate degrees. It is one of the seventeen constituent campuses of the...
, from which he graduated in 1987. Roberts also attended the School of American Ballet Summer Program and danced with Julie Kent at the School of American Ballet's New Choreography workshop performance in July 1986.
American Ballet Theater
In 1987, aged seventeen, Roberts joined American Ballet TheatreAmerican Ballet Theatre
American Ballet Theatre , based in New York City, was one of the foremost ballet companies of the 20th century. It continues as a leading dance company in the world today...
(ABT) as a member of the corps de ballet
Corps de ballet
In ballet, the corps de ballet is the group of dancers who are not soloists. They are a permanent part of the ballet company and often work as a backdrop for the principal dancers. A corps de ballet works as one, with synchronized movements and corresponding positioning on the stage...
at the invitation of Artistic Director (1980–89) Mikhail Baryshnikov
Mikhail Baryshnikov
Mikhail Nikolaevich Baryshnikov is a Soviet and American dancer, choreographer, and actor, often cited alongside Vaslav Nijinsky and Rudolf Nureyev as one of the greatest ballet dancers of the 20th century. After a promising start in the Kirov Ballet in Leningrad, he defected to Canada in 1974...
. Baryshnikov "served as an artistic role model for Roberts" and "suggested to Twyla Tharp that Roberts would be suited to her work." Roberts's dancing earned consistent praise from New York dance critics, who also noted his versatility. Dance Magazines Gus Solomons Jr. called Roberts "a stylistic chameleon".
Roberts danced many principal roles during the 1996-97 season, including Romeo in Romeo and Juliet; working with Artistic Director (1992-?) Kevin McKenzie
Kevin McKenzie (ballet dancer)
Kevin McKenzie is an American ballet dancer, choreographer, and Artistic Director of American Ballet Theatre since 1991. He began his ballet instruction at the O'Brien School of Dance in South Burlington, Vermont before attending the Washington School of Ballet...
and Georgina Parkinson on Romeo and performing it at ABT was something to which he had aspired since he was sixteen and "a dream come true." Ashley Tuttle
Ashley Tuttle
Ashley Tuttle is an American musical theatre actress and dancer best known for her role in the musical Movin' Out, which earned her a Tony Award.-Biography:...
, then a fellow ABT dancer, called Roberts a "technically perfect and completely giving" partner. McKenzie promoted Roberts to principal dancer
Principal dancer
A principal dancer is a dancer at the highest rank within a professional dance company, particularly a ballet company....
in 1997. He left the ABT in 1999 because "I had done everything I wanted to do in ballet, and I wanted to try something different".
ABT Repertory
- 1989: Twyla Tharp's Everlast
- 1990, 1993, 1995-6: Twyla Tharp's In the Upper Room
- 1990: Merce Cunningham's Duets
- 1990: Sir Frederick Ashton's Birthday Offering
- 1990: Twyla Tharp's Brief Fling**
- 1991, 1998: Jiri Kylian's Sinfonietta (First Movement)
- 1991: Kenneth MacMillan's Concerto
- 1991: Natalia Makarova (after Petipa)'s La Bayadère (Fakir)
- 1992, 1997: Clark Tippet's Bruch Violin Concerto #1
- 1992: Antony Tudor's Undertow (Transgressor)
- 1992: Fernando Bujones's Third Act of "Raymonda
- 1992: Michael Smuin's Peter and the Wolf
- 1992: Ulysses Dove's Serious Pleasures**
- 1993: Kenneth MacMillan's Sleeping Beauty (Jewels Divertissement, Bluebird)
- 1993: Kevin McKenzie's Nutcracker (Prince)
- 1993: Mark Morris's Drink to Me Only With Thine Eyes
- 1993: Swan Lake (Prince Siegfried)
- 1993-4: Kevin McKenzie's Nutcracker (Nutcracker Prince)
- 1994, 1996-7: Kenneth MacMillan's Manon (Lescaut)
- 1994, 1997: James Kudelka's Cruel World**
- 1994: Kenneth MacMillan's Sleeping Beauty (Rose Adagio)
- 1994: Lar Lubovitch's Red Shoes** (the Boy)
- 1994: Michel Fokine's Les Sylphides
- 1995 Twyla Tharp's How Near Heaven
- 1995: Jean Coralli, Jules Perrot and Marius Petipa's Giselle (Hilarion)
- 1995: Twyla Tharp's Jump Start**
- 1995-6: Lar Lubovitch's A Brahms Symphony
- 1995-6: Twyla Tharp's Americans We**
- 1995-7: George Balanchine's Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux
- 1996, 1999: Jiri Kylian's Stepping Stones
- 1996: Kevin McKenzie's Swan Lake (Pas de Trois)
- 1996: Natalia Makarova (after Petipa)'s La Bayadère (Bronze Idol)
- 1996: Twyla Tharp's The Elements**
- 1996-7, 1999: Kenneth MacMillan's Romeo and Juliet (Mercutio, Benvolio, Romeo)
- 1996-7: Ben Stevenson's Cinderella (Prince)
- 1996-8: Antony Tudor's The Leaves are Fading
- 1997: Clark Tippet's Bruch Violin Concerto #1
- 1997: Eliot Feld's Variations
- 1997: Jerome Robbins's Fancy Free
- 1997: Kevin McKenzie's Swan Lake (Neapolitan duet)
- 1997-8: Kenneth MacMillan's Sleeping Beauty (Prince Desiré)
- 1997-8: Lar Lubovitch's Othello** (originated Cassio; danced Othello)
- 1997-8: Nacho Duato's Remanso (formerly Valses Poeticos)
- 1997-8: Roland Hynd's The Merry Widow
- 1998: Harald Lander's Etudes
- 1998: Nacho Duato's Without Words**
- 1998-9: Ben Stevenson's The Snow Maiden (Misgir)
- 1998-9: George Balanchine's Symphonie Concertante
- 1998-9: Konstantin Sergeyev (after Petipa)'s Le Corsaire (Lankendem)
- 1998-9: Twyla Tharp's Known by Heart**
- 1999: John Neumeier's Getting Closer**
- 1999: Kenneth McMillan's Anastasia
- 1999: Kirk Peterson's Jeu d'Esprit
- 1999: Lar Lubovitch's Meadow**
- 1999: Martha Graham's Diversion of Angels
(**: originated a leading role)
Twyla Tharp Dance (2000-2002)
Twyla Tharp formed a new troupe in 2000 and named it Twyla Tharp Dance. Roberts was an original member of this group, which debuted at the American Dance FestivalAmerican Dance Festival
The American Dance Festival is a six and four-week school for dance and a six-week summer festival of modern dance performances, currently held at Duke University and the Durham Performing Arts Center in Durham, North Carolina....
in Durham, North Carolina
Durham, North Carolina
Durham is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the county seat of Durham County and also extends into Wake County. It is the fifth-largest city in the state, and the 85th-largest in the United States by population, with 228,330 residents as of the 2010 United States census...
in June 2000. Roberts originated leading roles in Surfer at the River Styx, Mozart Clarinet Concerto K581 and Beethoven's Hammerklavier and performed them along with the Known by Heart Duet and Sinatra Suite.
In the Upper Room
- Birmingham Royal BalletBirmingham Royal BalletBirmingham Royal Ballet is one of the three major ballet companies of the United Kingdom, alongside the Royal Ballet and the English National Ballet....
(2005) - American Ballet TheatreAmerican Ballet TheatreAmerican Ballet Theatre , based in New York City, was one of the foremost ballet companies of the 20th century. It continues as a leading dance company in the world today...
(2005-6) - Bolshoi BalletBolshoi TheatreThe Bolshoi Theatre is a historic theatre in Moscow, Russia, designed by architect Joseph Bové, which holds performances of ballet and opera. The Bolshoi Ballet and Bolshoi Opera are amongst the oldest and most renowned ballet and opera companies in the world...
(2007) - Boston BalletBoston BalletBoston Ballet, founded in 1963 by E. Virginia Williams, was the first professional repertory ballet company in New England. Boston Ballet’s national and international reputation developed under the leadership of Artistic Directors Violette Verdy , Bruce Marks , and Anna-Marie Holmes...
(2008) - Corella Ballet Castilla y Leon (2008)
- Orlando Ballet Theater (2008)
- Houston BalletHouston BalletThe Houston Ballet, operated by the Houston Ballet Foundation, is the fourth-largest professional ballet company in the United States, based in Houston, Texas. The foundation also maintains a ballet academy, the Ben Stevenson Academy, which trains more than half of the company's dancers...
(2009)
Nine Sinatra Songs
- Birmingham Royal BalletBirmingham Royal BalletBirmingham Royal Ballet is one of the three major ballet companies of the United Kingdom, alongside the Royal Ballet and the English National Ballet....
(2006-7) - Ballet WestBallet WestBallet West, Salt Lake City, Utah was founded in 1963 by Glenn Walker Wallace, who served as its first president. It was called the Utah Civic Ballet company. Willam F...
(2008) - Nevada Ballet Theater (2008)
Choreography
- Assistant Choreographer, Rabbit and Rogue. Choreographed by Twyla Tharp on American Ballet TheaterAmerican Ballet TheatreAmerican Ballet Theatre , based in New York City, was one of the foremost ballet companies of the 20th century. It continues as a leading dance company in the world today...
; world premiere June 3, 2008, Metropolitan Opera House.
Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake
Roberts made his Broadway debut in Matthew BourneMatthew Bourne
Matthew Bourne OBE is a British classical and contemporary ballet and dance choreographer.-Biography:Matthew Bourne was born in Hackney, London in 1960. He went to William Fitt and Sir George Monoux School in Walthamstow, London...
's Swan Lake in December 1998, taking over the lead role of The Swan from originator Adam Cooper
Adam Cooper (dancer)
Adam Cooper is an English dancer, choreographer and theatre director who has worked in many fields of dance. He is most noted as a dancer of classical ballet and is a former Principal of the Royal Ballet, a major international ballet company based in London...
. Roberts performed the role through January 23, 1999.
Fosse
In January 1999, Roberts took over the Percussion 4 role in FosseFosse
Fosse is a three-act musical revue showcasing the choreography of Bob Fosse. After 21 previews, the original Broadway production, conceived and directed by Richard Maltby, Jr...
originated by Desmond Richardson
Desmond Richardson
Desmond Richardson is co-founder and co-artistic director of Complexions Contemporary Ballet. He has mastered a wide range of dance forms including classical, modern, and contemporary.- Life and career :...
. The role also included numbers Cool Hand Luke, Mr. Bojangles (The Spirit) and ensemble pieces; Roberts initially danced it through February 13. He returned April 11 and danced it until the last performance of Fosse on August 25, 2001.
Movin' Out
Roberts originated the role of Tony in Twyla Tharp's Movin' Out, which debuted on Broadway at the Richard Rodgers Theater on October 24, 2002 and ran through December 11, 2005. In October 2000, Tharp started working with Roberts and other Twyla Tharp Dance company members on Movin' Out. To help him prepare to portray Tony, Tharp had Roberts study Henry WinklerHenry Winkler
Henry Franklin Winkler, OBE is an American actor, director, producer, and author.Winkler is best known for his role as Fonzie on the 1970s American sitcom Happy Days...
's Fonzie from the television show Happy Days and John Travolta
John Travolta
John Joseph Travolta is an American actor, dancer and singer. Travolta first became known in the 1970s, after appearing on the television series Welcome Back, Kotter and starring in the box office successes Saturday Night Fever and Grease...
's walk in the opening sequence of the movie Saturday Night Fever. Tharp also had the Movin' Out cast view news film and popular films about the Vietnam war at New York's Museum of Television and Radio.
Roberts received a 2003 Tony Award Nomination for Actor (Featured Role in a Musical) and 2003 Fred and Adele Astaire Award nomination for Best Male Dancer for his role.
Roberts performed the role of Tony in parts of the National Tour of Movin' Out, which ran from January 27, 2004 through January 21, 2007. In 2006, Roberts said he was "still excited by the show", "[never stopped] learning about it" and was "always challenged by it". The tour launched in Detroit and went to Washington D.C., Denver, Seattle, San Diego, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Sacramento.
Come Fly Away
Roberts originated the role of Hank in Twyla Tharp's Come Fly Away, which debuted on Broadway at the Marquis TheaterMarquis Theatre
The Marquis Theatre is a legitimate Broadway theatre located at 1535 Broadway in midtown-Manhattan.Situated on the third floor of the Marriott Marquis Hotel, the 1611-seat venue was designed by developer/architect John C. Portman, Jr...
on March 25, 2010 after its premiere as Come Fly With Me at Atlanta's Alliance Theater in September 2009.
Roberts received a 2010 Fred & Adele Astaire Award nomination for best Male Dancer for his role.
Guest appearances
- Vladimir MalakovVladimir Malakhov (dancer)Vladimir Malakhov , was a principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre. In 2004 he became the artistic director and first soloist of the Staatsballett Berlin which was newly formed from the ballets of the three public opera houses.He began his dance training at the age of four at a small ballet...
group - Jose CarreñoJose Manuel CarreñoJosé Manuel Carreño is a retired Cuban ballet dancer, who performed as a principal dancer with the English National Ballet, Royal Ballet and American Ballet Theatre....
group - 1994: Lar Lubovitch Dance CompanyLar Lubovitch Dance CompanyLar Lubovitch Dance Company is a dance company based in New York City and founded by Lar Lubovitch in the late 1960s. They have performed at Carnegie Hall, and worldwide....
: A Brahms Symphony - 1998: Lar Lubovitch Dance CompanyLar Lubovitch Dance CompanyLar Lubovitch Dance Company is a dance company based in New York City and founded by Lar Lubovitch in the late 1960s. They have performed at Carnegie Hall, and worldwide....
, City Center Gala: Othello (Othello) - 2007: 22nd Anniversary Dance Rocks Career Transition for Dancers benefit in New York: Shameless from Movin' Out with castmate Elizabeth Parkinson
- 2009: Dance Teacher Summit Gala: Performed "Shameless" from Movin' Out with castmate Laurie Kanyok
- May 3, 2010: Performed One for My Baby from Come Fly Away with castmate Karine Plantadit at The New York Pops 27th birthday gala The Best Is Yet To Come: Celebrating the Legacy of Frank Sinatra at Carnegie Hall.
- June 7, 2010: Performed with the cast of Come Fly Away at the 2010 Astaire Awards at the Gerald Lynch Theater.
- June 17, 2010: Performed That's Life from Come Fly Away with castmate Karine Plantadit on TV show So You Think You Can DanceSo You Think You Can Dance (U.S. TV series)So You Think You Can Dance is an American dance competition and reality show that airs on Fox in the United States.The series first premiered on July 20, 2005, and was created by American Idol producers Simon Fuller and Nigel Lythgoe and is produced by 19 Entertainment and Dick Clark Productions...
.
Awards
- 2003 Tony Awards nomination, Actor (Featured Role in a Musical) for role of "Tony" in Movin' Out
- 2003 TDF/Astaire Awards nomination, best Male Dancer for role of "Tony" in Movin' Out
- 2010 Fred & Adele Astaire Awards nomination, best Male Dancer for role of Hank in Come Fly Away
Television
- Live from Lincoln Center: Romeo and Juliet (PBS) (1988?)
- Twyla Tharp: Oppositions (PBS) (1996) -- performed in In the Upper Room
- American Ballet Theatre Now - Variety and Virtuosity (PBS Dance in America) (1998) -- performed in Remanso and 3rd Movement from Bruch Violin Concerto #1
- 57th Annual Tony Awards (CBS) (June 8, 2003) -- performed with cast of Movin' Out
- 64th Annual Tony Awards (CBS) (June 13, 2010) -- performed with cast of Come Fly Away
- So You Think You Can Dance (FOX) (June 17, 2010) -- see Guest Appearances.
External links
- American Ballet Theater official website
- Swan Lake at IBDb *Fosse at IBDb
- Lar Lubovitch Dance Company website
- Twyla Tharp official website
- Movin' Out at the Internet Broadway Database
- Come Fly Away at the Internet Broadway Database